Spirit of '76 (Marvel Comics)
| Spirit of '76 | |
|---|---|
| File:Spiritof76-comics.jpg William Naslund / Spirit of '76. Art by Jack Kirby. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Invaders #14 (March 1977) |
| Created by | Roy Thomas Frank Robbins |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | William Naslund |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | All-Winners Squad Crusaders Invaders |
| Notable aliases | Captain America Spirit of '76 |
| Abilities |
As Spirit of '76:
As Captain America:
|
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Spirit of '76 (William Naslund) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Frank Robbins as part of a World War II-era superhero team named as the Crusaders, and patterned on the DC Comics group the Freedom Fighters, the character first appeared in The Invaders #14 (March 1977).[1]
Spirit of '76 was the equivalent of Freedom Fighters member Uncle Sam, originally a Quality Comics character.[2][3] The character briefly assumed the role of Captain America after the original – Steve Rogers – was presumed dead.[4] However, he was killed in action.[5]
Publication history[edit]
William Naslund debuted as a member of the short-lived superhero team the Crusaders in The Invaders #14–15 (March–April 1977), created by Roy Thomas and Frank Robbins.[6] In a canonical portion of a story in issue #4 (August 1977) of the alternative universe series What If?, Naslund succeeds Steve Rogers as Captain America, the first of three official replacements until Rogers resumed the role years later.[7] This retcon became necessary after Marvel's conflicting accounts of Captain America in 1950s and 1960s comics had created a discrepancy.
Fictional character biography[edit]
William Naslund was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. An athletic young man, hoping to help the Allies' World War II efforts in a unique way, he develops exceptional fighting skills and learns to copy some of the moves Captain America employed with the discus-like shield that he carried. He is recruited by a mysterious man called "Alfie" to become a costumed hero in the new team of adventurers called the Crusaders, alongside Dyna-Mite, Ghost Girl, Thunderfist, Captain Wings, and Tommy Lightning. The team eventually learns that Alfie is a German agent, but not before he has manipulated them into fighting the Allied super-team the Invaders. Upon learning how they had been duped, all the Crusaders but Naslund left costumed adventuring.[8]
When the original Captain America, Steve Rogers, and his sidekick, Bucky, went missing in action in 1945, U.S. President Harry S. Truman recruited Naslund and a young man named Fred Davis to become the new Captain America and Bucky.[9] Alongside Namor the Sub-Mariner and the original Red Guardian, the new Captain America stopped a Nazi plot to destroy the Potsdam Conference.[10] They briefly fought alongside the post-war All-Winners Squad, battling Isbisa[11] and, with the Blonde Phantom, fought to prevent a criminal attempt to steal the atomic bomb, encountering a time-traveling She-Hulk during this mission.[12] Naslund was killed in 1946 in the line of duty when he was crushed to death by a robot serving the android named Adam II while warning the rest of the All-Winners Squad of Adam II's attempt to kidnap or kill then-Congressional candidate John F. Kennedy in Boston. Naslund was succeeded as Captain America by Jeffrey Mace, formerly the superhero Patriot.[13] Naslund was later brought through time by the Contemplator to battle an Adam II of an alternate world alongside the original Captain America, Jeffrey Mace, and the 1950s Captain America.[14]
Powers and abilities[edit]
William Naslund had no superhuman powers but was a brilliant athlete and a superb hand-to-hand combatant. As the Spirit of '76, he designed and wore a cloak made of an unknown bulletproof and fireproof material. As Captain America, he carried a steel shield, approximately 2.5 feet in diameter and fashioned by the U.S. government after the design used by the original Captain America.
Reception[edit]
Anubhav Chaudhry of Sportskeeda wrote, "His story is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by heroes during times of war."[15] Nicholas Friedman of Comic Book Resources ranked William Naslund 18th in their "The Very Best Captain Americas" list.[16]
References[edit]
- ↑ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 350. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0. Search this book on
- ↑ "Captain America (Spirit of '76)". International Hero. July 16, 1945. Retrieved January 9, 2011.
- ↑ Cronin, Brian (April 21, 2023). "How Many of the Characters in the Second Marvel 'Book of the Dead' Are Still Dead?". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ↑ Young, Andrew (March 18, 2017). "10 Characters Who Replaced Captain America". WhatCulture. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ↑ Rector, Seth (May 23, 2021). "Captain America: Everyone Who Has Held The Shield, Ranked Worst To Best". Screen Rant. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ↑ Nason, Max (August 28, 2022). "Marvel: Every Character Who's Been Captain America (In Chronological Order)". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ↑ Dietsch, TJ (June 14, 2017). "24 Most Patriotic Characters". Marvel.com. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ↑ The Invaders #14–15 (Mar–April 1977)
- ↑ What If #4 (August 1977)
- ↑ Namor, the Sub-Mariner Annual #1 (1991)
- ↑ All-Winners Comics #19 (Fall 1946)
- ↑ The Sensational She-Hulk #22 (December 1990)
- ↑ What If #4 (August 1977; canonical story)
- ↑ Captain America Annual #6 (1982)
- ↑ Chaudhry, Anubhav (February 22, 2023). "10 characters who have taken the mantle of Captain America in Marvel comics". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ↑ Friedman, Nicholas (July 22, 2018). "Shield Of Dreams: The Very Best Captain Americas, Officially Ranked". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
External links[edit]
Template:Captain America characters
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- Captain America characters
- Characters created by Frank Robbins
- Characters created by Roy Thomas
- Comics characters introduced in 1977
- Fictional characters from Philadelphia
- Fictional shield fighters
- Fictional World War II veterans
- Incarnations of Captain America
- Marvel Comics military personnel
- Marvel Comics superheroes
- United States-themed superheroes
